78 CHL Players Selected in 2018 NHL Draft

Dallas, TX – The Canadian Hockey League today announced that 78 CHL players were selected in the seven rounds of the 2018 NHL Draft held this weekend at American Airlines Center representing over 35% of all 217 players picked by all 31 NHL clubs.

The 78 CHL players includes 13 selected in the first round with four picks in the top-10 led by Andrei Svechnikov of the Barrie Colts chosen second overall by the Carolina Hurricanes. The draft’s second round featured 12 CHL players bringing the league’s opening two-round total to 25 which represents 40% of the top-62 picks.

Of the 78 CHL players selected, the Ontario Hockey League leads the way with 35 players, followed by 23 players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, and 20 players from the Western Hockey League.

By position, a total of 118 forwards were selected (39 CHL), 70 defencemen (30 CHL), and 29 goaltenders (9 CHL). The league produced three of the first five forwards chosen with Svechnikov the top player at his position, followed by Barrett Hayton of the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds chosen fifth overall by the Arizona Coyotes, and Filip Zadina of the Halifax Mooseheads chosen sixth overall by the Detroit Red Wings. On defence, the CHL helped fuel a record number of blue liners chosen in the draft’s opening round providing seven of the 14 picks including four of the first seven beginning with Evan Bouchard of the London Knights going 10th overall to the Edmonton Oilers, followed by Noah Dobson of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan picked 12th overall by the New York Islanders, Ty Smith of the Spokane Chiefs picked 17th by the New Jersey Devils, and Ryan Merkley of the Guelph Storm taken 21st overall by the San Jose Sharks. In goal, Olivier Rodrigue of the Drummondville Voltigeurs was one of two netminders chosen in the second round going 62nd overall to the Oilers.

41 different CHL teams developed NHL Draft picks in 2018 led by the Drummondville Voltigeurs, Halifax Mooseheads, and London Knights each with four players selected. The four Voltigeurs equals a team high recorded in both 1995 and 1991, the Mooseheads reach four for the first time since 2013, while the Knights continue their record streak of players chosen annually since 1969. The Barrie Colts, Everett Silvertips, Kitchener Rangers, Oshawa Generals, Ottawa 67’s, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, and Vancouver Giants each had three players selected.

29 of the 31 NHL teams selected at least one CHL player with the Toronto Maple Leafs leading the way with seven CHL picks, followed by the host Dallas Stars with six, and the Washington Capitals with five. Each of the Arizona Coyotes, Detroit Red Wings, Minnesota Wild, and Montreal Canadiens chose four CHL players. Of the other Canadian NHL teams, the Edmonton Oilers chose three CHL players, the Calgary Flames and Winnipeg Jets both chose two, while the Ottawa Senators and Vancouver Canucks both chose one. The Boston Bruins and the Buffalo Sabres were the only teams not to select a CHL player.

Following the 2018 NHL Draft, a total of 5,539 CHL players have been selected since 1969 representing just under 50% of all players.

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